CAMERONS TAKE OVER

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19946, 2 November 1934, Page 2

CAMERONS TAKE OVER

“GREAT DAY FOR LONDON” Scotland came into her own last month when the 2nd Camerons took over London public duties from the Scots Guards. “A great day for the Camerons,” said a Cockney woman in the crowd; and, with all the arrogance of the Scot, says a Scottish newspaper, one felt like retorting, “No (here an impressive pause) a great day for London.”

Not for. years has there been such a crowd at St. James’, and there was a larger number than usual of exservicemen among them. There was more than the normal stir when, instead of the swelling brass, the skirl of the pipes was heard, and the crowd was thrilled when the tall drumsticks were seen flashing above the heads of the pipers. There are few things more terrilfic than the elan of a Highland big drummer in his leopard skin, unless it is the pomp and circumstance of a Highland pipe-major in full blast. And he was there too, with more than twenty of his men wearing their eagle feathers. All that was lacking to give the scene that splendour which the older Scots can remember was the scarlet doublet and the feather bonnet. So dressed, a Highland battalion is more than a match for any of the Guards.

The writer adds: “But we had to be content with khaki, and a brave show the Camerons made of it. They were slightly conscious of the occasion, but their drill was first-class and those Scottish boys were steady as a rock.

“It is perhaps a pity that the old guard was provided by the Scots Guards. Other circumstances might have given the Camerons the chance of a wicked leg-pull in arriving to the strains of “Hey, Johnnie Cope,” that devilish reveille which puts more ginger into Scots pipes and drums than any other quick-step ever composed. But, of course, one couldn’t do a thing like that on the Scots Guards.”